People demonstrate, outside the office of the ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, holding banners with the images of from left, financier George Soros ,President of the European Council Donald Tusk and First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, during a protest, in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, July 26, 2017. The European Union's executive remains open to triggering sanctions against Poland for limiting judicial independence despite the Polish president's veto of parts of a controversial legal overhaul, a top EU official said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

FILE- In this Thursday, July 20, 2017 file photo, leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski votes to approve a law on court control, in the parliament in Warsaw, Poland. The leader of Poland's ruling party says the government intends to "decentralize" the media after it completes an overhaul of the judicial system that the European Union has denounced as violating democratic norms. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz, File)

People raise candles as they attend a daily protest against judicial reforms in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, July 27, 2017. The leader of Poland's ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, says the government intends to "decentralize" the media after it completes an overhaul of the judicial system that the European Union has denounced as violating democratic norms. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

A Polish national flag waves as people hold candles during a daily protest against judicial reforms in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, July 27, 2017. The leader of Poland's ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, says the government intends to "decentralize" the media after it completes an overhaul of the judicial system that the European Union has denounced as violating democratic norms. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

EU executive branch files complaint against Poland

EU executive branch files complaint against Poland

Jul. 29, 2017

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's executive branch has launched a complaint alleging Poland has limited judicial independence in the country in violation of EU laws.

The European Commission said Saturday it sent a "letter of formal notice" to Poland to raise concerns that the independence of Polish courts will be undermined by the new "discretionary" powers the overhaul gives the country's justice minister.

The commission says it is especially concerned the justice minister now is entitled to extend the mandates of judges and to dismiss and appoint court presidents.

Warsaw has one month to reply to the notice warning it is infringing on EU laws. The commission may then take further steps.

The Euroskeptic Polish government has said that reforming the justice system is an internal Polish matter.